Stormy Weather Pattern to Persist Throughout Central U.S.

It is going to be another week of tumultuous weather across the central U.S. with storms on tap to some degree every day. The central and southern portions of the Plains will bear the brunt of the storms in the days ahead. Here is what you need to know.

Volatile Week of Weather Expected for the Central U.S.

Multiple rounds of potentially dangerous storms are bearing down on the Plains this week. The silver lining is that while the storms will be frequent in nature, they are not expected to carry widespread severe impacts. The storms will also move at a fast clip, helping to mitigate the damage at any given time. The biggest risks will be to areas that see repeated storms on consecutive days this week.

The activity fired up late Monday in a zone from eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi and to the north up into the Ohio Valley and over into Pennsylvania and western New York. This put a large part of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys as well as the central Appalachians in the line of fire.

By Tuesday, the storms are forecast to migrate back to the west as a system comes down from the Rockies. Locally severe storms are likely from the north-central portions of Kansas and to the south into western Texas and the eastern fringe of New Mexico. Potential impacts for Tuesday's event include large hail and strong winds. Forecasters are warning that hail the size of baseballs could cause localized damage. Lastly, you cannot rule out the chance of isolated tornadoes spinning up within some of the strongest storm cells.

Heading into Wednesday, the primary impact zone will stretch to the north over the High Plains. Areas that need to be aware of the likelihood of stormy conditions include eastern New Mexico, western Texas, the western half of Kansas, eastern Colorado, and southwestern Nebraska. Like Tuesday, the potential risks include large hail, damaging winds, and a tornado or two. Although the storms will bring in a surge of moisture, torrential rain is not expected at this time.

Amarillo, Texas, could see a storm erupt later in the afternoon on Wednesday. Temperatures climbing to about the 80-degree mark will fuel the chance of storms. It will also be a breezy day in this part of the Texas Panhandle with winds out of the south-southwest at 15 to 25 mph.

Deja Vu in Thursday's Forecast

Thursday's forecast is calling for more of the same with the thunderstorms roaming the same general region. The storms on this day are also more likely to move farther to the east, reaching the central portions of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Dodge City, Kansas, will be in the heart of the activity on Thursday. This part of the Sunflower State is bracing for scattered storms throughout the day with winds out of the southeast at 10 to 20 mph. The mercury will fall about 10 degrees from Wednesday's high, topping out at about 70 degrees. Storms will persist through the overnight hours in Dodge City as temperatures settle in the low 50s. Because the storms are most likely to happen under the cover of darkness, it is important to ensure that you have a way to receive weather alerts.

Wichita Falls, Texas, is another area that will see the greatest chance of storm development on Thursday. The rain and storms are forecast to move into the region late Wednesday with the most sustained activity expected into the next day. Thursday night will bring heavy rainfall to Wichita Falls and the surrounding area. After reaching a high of near 90 degrees on Tuesday, the mercury will trend downward beginning Wednesday. Thursday is anticipated to be the coolest day of the week with highs in the mid to upper 70s.

The line of storms will push into major metro areas such as Oklahoma City on Thursday. Like the rest of the region, the overnight hours could see the highest chance of severe weather. The capital city is forecast to see the threat of storms linger into Friday morning. Temperatures will also take a slight dip on Thursday, struggling to climb out of the low 70s.

Flooding Risk Amplified in Areas That Have Already Seen Significant Rain

The cumulative impact of the storms will translate to an increased risk of flash flooding as the week progresses. This threat will be the greatest in areas that see the repeated storms.

By the end of the work week, the storms will remain an issue for the Plains, however, the activity may also track farther to the east and into the Mississippi and Ohio valleys. Friday's forecast is not calling for widespread storms. But forecasters warn that the storms that do fire up could pack sustained high winds, hail, and the chance of tornadoes.

The rain associated with Friday's weather maker will also fall across parts of the Plains that will be able to absorb it quickly without the threat of flooding. However, it could be a different situation if the rain falls in areas to the east. For instance, the Ohio Valley has already seen an exceptionally wet April, making the chance of flooding higher.

Forecasters will continue to monitor this situation and update accordingly.

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